/ pliːd; NAmE / verb ( pleaded , pleaded NAmE also pled , pled / pled; NAmE /)
1.
plead (with sb) (for sth) to ask sb for sth in a very strong and serious way
SYN beg :
[ v ]
She pleaded with him not to go.
I was forced to plead for my child's life.
pleading eyes
[ v to inf ]
He pleaded to be allowed to see his mother one more time.
[ v speech ]
'Do something!' she pleaded.
2.
to state in court that you are guilty or not guilty of a crime :
[ v - adj ]
to plead guilty / not guilty
[ v ]
How do you plead? (= said by the judge at the start of the trial)
[ vn ] [ no passive ]
He advised his client to plead insanity (= say that he / she was mentally ill and therefore not responsible for his / her actions) .
3.
[ vn ] to present a case to a court :
They hired a top lawyer to plead their case.
4.
plead sth (for sth) to give sth as an explanation or excuse for sth :
[ vn ] [ no passive ]:
He pleaded family problems for his lack of concentration.
[also v that ]
5.
plead (for sb/sth) to argue in support of sb/sth :
[ vn ]
She appeared on television to plead the cause of political prisoners everywhere.
[ v ]
The United Nations has pleaded for a halt to the bombing.
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (in the sense to wrangle ): from Old French plaidier go to law, from plaid discussion, from Latin placitum a decree, neuter past participle of placere to please.